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Kerala Syllabus Class 10 English Question Paper March 2022 with Answers
Time: 2½ Hours
Total Score: 80 Marks
General Instructions to Candidates:
- 15 minutes is ‘Cool-off time’. Use this time to get familiarised with questions and plan your answers.
- Questions with different score are given as distinct sections.
- Read the instructions carefully before answering the questions.
- Keep in mind the score and the time while answering the questions.
- The maximum score for questions from 1 to 35 will be 80.
PART – I (Each question carries 1 score)
Questions 1 – 6. Read the excerpt from “Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ and answer any FOUR questions that follow. (4 × 1 = 4)
Though the house and grounds of our home in India were Grandfather’s domain, the magnificient old banyan tree was mine – chiefly because Grandfather, at the age of sixty-five could not longer climb it. Grandmother used to tease him about this, and would speak of a certain Countess of Desmond, an English woman who lived upto the age of 117, and would have lived longer if she hadn’t fallen while climbing an apple tree. The spreading branches of the banyan tree, which curved to the ground and took root again, forming a maze of arches, gave me endless pleasure. The tree was older than the house, older than Grandfather, as old as the town of Dehra, nesting in a valley at the foot of the Himalayas.
Question 1.
The magnificient old banyan tree was mine….’ Why does the boy think so? (1)
Answer:
The boy thinks so because his grandfather at the age of 62 could not climb it and so he feels the old banyan tress is his.
Question 2.
How does the grandmother tease the grandfather? (1)
Answer:
The grandmother teases the grandfather by telling him that a certain Countess of Desmond, an English woman, who lived up to the age of 117, would have lived longer if she had not fallen while climbing an apple tree.
Question 3.
Which town is referred to in the passage? (1)
Answer:
The town referred to in the passage is Dehra, at the foot of the Himalayas.
Question 4.
How does the boy establish that the banyan treen was very old? (1)
Answer:
The boy establishes that the banyan tree was very old by saying that the branches of the banyan tree had curved to the ground and took root again. Thus there were many trees all connected together. He further says the banyan tree was older than anything there.
Question 5.
The banyan tree formed a maze of arches. How? (1)
Answer:
The banyan tree formed a maze of arches as its branches had curved to the ground and took root again. Thus there were many trees all connected together forming a maze.
Question 6.
Pick out the word from the passage that means ‘a land a person controls.’ (1)
Answer:
Domain
Questions 7 – 10: Read the lines from the poem, ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ and answer the questions that follow. (4 × 1 = 4)
Yes, and how many years can a mountain exist Before it is washed to the sea?
Yes, how many years can some people exist Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head And pretend that he just doesn’t see?
Question 7.
Who may be ‘some people’ referred to in the poem? (1)
Answer:
“Some people” are those who are still not free as their countries are under foreign domination or because they belong to some groups considered inferior to and lower than others.
Question 8.
What do the lines ‘Yes, and how many years can a mountain exist/ Before it is washed to the sea’? Indicate. (1)
(a) A mountain never perishes.
(b) The long years of suffering of the people.
(c) The strong protest of the people.
Answer:
C. The strong protest of the people.
Question 9.
The expression ‘turn his head’ in the above lines means ………………… (1)
Answer:
“Turn his head” here means pretend not to see.
Question 10.
What does the man pretend? (1)
Answer:
The man pretends that he does not see the injustices going around him.
PART – II (Each question carries 2 score)
Questions 11 – 15 : Read the lines from ‘Mother to Son’ and answer any THREE questions that follow. (3 × 2 = 6)
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor – Bare.
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’corners,
And sometimes gpin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
Question 11.
Who is the speaker of the poem? Who the poem is addressed to? (2)
Answer:
The speaker of the poem is the mother. It is addressed to her son.
Question 12.
Pick out two expressions that describe the boards on the stair. (2)
Answer:
a) It’s had tacks in it and splinters,
b) And boards torn up.
Question 13.
Why is the stair described as ‘bare’? (2)
Answer:
The stair is described bare because it is not covered by carpet.
Question 14.
After reaching the landing, what are the two things the speaker experiences? (2)
Answer:
After reaching the landing, she turns corners and sometimes she has to go in the dark.
Question 15.
There ain’t been no light’. Why? (2)
Answer:
It is night time and there are no lights on the stairs.
Questions 16 – 18: Read the exerpt from ‘My Sister’s Shoes’ and answer any TWO questions that follow.
He goes to the pile of boxes in front of the shop and picks the bundle of nan and then looks for the bag of shoes. Unable to find it, he places the bag of nan atop the vegetable boxes and begins to search underneath. First, he puts his hand and then his head in the gap between the boxes of vegetables, which upsets them all. The vegetable boxes tumble and vegetables scatter on the ground. On hearing the sound, Akbar comes running from inside the shop and sees the vegetables strewn on the ground.
Akbar : (annoyed) What the hell are you doing? Why did you spill these? Are you crazy?
Ali : (looking at him with guilt) My sister’s shoes have disappeared.
Akbar : Get lost. Beat it.
AN : I left my sister’s shoes are.
Akbar : I said get lost! (bangs his fist on the pile of (poxes)
Ali runs away, scared.
Question 16.
Describe two actions of Ali after getting out of the shop. (2)
Answer:
He goes to the pile in front of the shop and picks up the bundle of nan and then he looks for the bag of shoes.
Question 17.
Why were the boxes of vegetables upset? (2)
Answer:
The boxes of vegetables were upset because he searches for the bag of shoes underneath the boxes. He puts his hand and then his head in the.gap between the boxes of vegetable which upsets them all.
Question 18.
What are the two expressions of Akbar that shows his annoyance? (2)
Answer:
He asks AN “Are you crazy?” and then he tells him to get lost.
PART – III (Each question carries 4 score)
Questions 19 – 23: Answer any THREE of the following: ? (3 × 4 = 12)
Question 19.
Complete the following passage choosing the right phrases from those given in the box.
After reaching my room I ______(a)______ my coat and white shirt and hung them up. I had to ______(b)______ a lot of rats who were running around my room. I ______(c)______ but I could not sleep. I ______(d)______ and went out to the ve-randa for a little air.
(lay down, get up, put up with, take off)
Answer:
a. took off
b. put up with
c. lay down
d. got up
Question 20.
Read the passage given below. There are certain er-rors in it. They are underlined. Edit them.
All my characters was (a) white and blue-eyed, they playing (b) in the snow, they ate apples, and they talked a lot about the weather. How lovely it was which (c) the sun has come (d) out!
Answer:
a. were
b. played
c. when
d. came out
Question 21.
Complete the conversation suitably.
Boy : You didn’t see the fight in the garden, ………….(a)………….
Grandmother : No dear …………(b)………….. ?
Boy : I saw the fight between the mongoose and a cobra.
Grandmother : …………(c)……….. ?
Boy : Yea, the cobra was killed.
Grandmother : If the mongoose had not killed the cobra, …………..(d)…………… ?
Boy : The mongoose did it for us.
Answer:
a. did you?
b. I didn’t.
c. Was the cobra killed?
d. we would have killed it.
Question 22.
A few words are missing in the following message. Choose the right one from the box given below and fill in the blanks.
As he spoke ………….(a)…………. real feeling, I got ………….(b)…………. vivid picture of the work these two people were do-ing. I learned how they took derelict adolescents …………..(c)…………. were put in juvenile courts to a special centre. Then they would place these yound people in a healthy environment ………….(d)…………. heal them in mind and body.
and, with, a, from, who
Answer:
a. with
b. a
c. who
d. and
Question 23.
Read the following sentences and identify the noun phrases in the subject position of each sentence. (4)
(i) Adichie went to the US for her studies.
(ii) Her American roommate was shocked:
(iii) All the students in the class looked at her when-ever Africa was referred to.
(iv) The single story about Africa which we believe may not be the only story.
Answer:
i) Adichie
ii) Her American roommate
iii) a) All the students in the class …………. b) Africa
iv) a) The single story about Africa ………… b) we
Questions 24 – 25. Answer any ONE of the following:
Question 24.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. (4)
One day a father and a son went to a restaurant to have dinner. The father was so old that his hands shooks while eating and spilled food on his shirt and trousers. Other diners watched the father in disgust, but this did not embarass the son in any way. After eating, the son quiety led him to the wash, removed the food particles on his father’s dress and combined his hair. When they came out of the wash, the entire restaurant was watching them in dead silence. The son settled the bill and was walking out with his father when an old man among the diners called out to him ‘Son, now I have a hope to live on.’
(i) Where does the incident take place?
(ii) Why did the other diners watch the father in disgust?
(iii) How did the son help his father?
(iv) What was the reaction of the other old man who watched the scene?
Answer:
i) The incident took place in a restaurant.
ii) The other diners watched the father in disgust because he was old and his hands shook while eating, spilling food in his shirt and trousers.
iii) The son helped his father by leading him to the wash. He removed the food particles from his father’s dress and combed his hair. The son then settled the bill and walked out with his father.
iv) The other old man who watched the scene was happy to see such a dutiful son. He told him, “Son, I have a hope to live on.”
Question 25.
Details of a few films are given below. Study the table and answer the questions that follows.
| Film | Director | Year of release | Language |
| Rashomon | Akira Kurosawa | 1950 | Japanese |
| Piravi | Shaii N.Karun | 1989 | Malayalam |
| Samskara | Pattabhirama Reddy | 1970 | Kannada |
| The Way Home | Lee Jeong Hyanq | 2002 | Korean |
(i) Who directed the movie ‘Samskara’?
(ii) Which is the only Malayalam film listed in the table?
(iii) The Way Home’ Vras released in ………………..
(iv) The film ………………….. is directed y Akira Kurosawa.
Answer:
i) Pattabhirama Reddy
ii) Piravi
iii) 2002
iv) Rashomon
PART – IV (Each question carries 6 score)
Questions 26 – 29: Answer any THREE of the following in about 80 words each. (3 × 6 = 18)
Question 26.
Read the following lines taken from the poem The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ and prepare a note of appreciation focusing on the theme, imagery and other poetic devices. (6)
The old priest Peter Gilligan
Was weary night and day
For half his folks were in their beds
Or under green sold lay.
Once, while he nodded in chair
At the moth-hour of the eve
Another poor man sent for him
And he began to grieve.
Answer:
“The Ballad of Father Gilligan” is a fine poem by William Butler Yeats. Fr. Gilligan was an old priest and he was tired of working day and night because of an epidemic that afflicted his parishioners. Half of his folks were either sick in their beds or they had died and were buried. One evening at the moth hour, when moths were flying about, he was sitting in his chair because of his extreme tiredness. He was almost dozing, when a poor man sent for him calling him to the house of a dying man to give him his last 29. sacrament called “Anointing the Sick”. He felt sad because he was too tired to get up and go to serve the dying man.
The poem is an exquisite one as it beautifully portrays Fr Gilligan who is serving his God as well as his parishioners, who are sick and many are dying. Before death the Christians are given a sacrament known as “Anointing the Sick” by the priest and then when the sick people die, the priest has to go for the funeral services. Fr. Gilligan was an old man but he did his best to carry out his duties faithfully. The imagery is beautiful as we can see the old, tired Fr. Gilligan trying to rest for a few minutes in his chair at the moth hour. The poem is a ballad, a story which talks about an epidemic and how the old priest had to work round the clock. The poem is in rhyme. The rhyming scheme is abcb.
Question 27.
Martha was upset when she was informed by the principal that she should pay for the Scholarship Jacket. She approached her grandfather for the money. But the grandfather was not ready to pay for the Jacket. She expressed her feelings in her diary. Attempt the likely diary entry. (6)
Answer:
According to the tradition of my school, every year during the 8lh grade passing out function a beautiful gold and green jacket was awarded to the student who had maintained the highest grades for 8 years.
I had been an “A” student from the first grade. My father is a farm labourer. He hardly earned enough money to feed his 8 children. So when I was six, I was given to my grandparents to be looked after. After my PE classes, when I went to my classroom to collect my bag I heard an argument between Mrs. Schmidt, my history teacher and Mr. Boone, my maths teacher. They were arguing about me. Mr. Schmidt wanted me to get the Scholarship Jacket. But Mr. Boone wanted it to be given to Joanne, who is No. 2 in the list. Her father is a Board Member and a rich man. I was quite upset to think that I may lost the Scholarship Jacket to Joanne.
The next day the Principal called me and said there was a change in the policy regarding the scholarship jacket. To get it, I have to pay 15 dollars. When I asked my grandfather for 15 dollars, he told me he would not give it because if one has to pay for the jacket it will not be a scholarship jacket any more. I feel so sad. I feel so helpless. All my efforts for 8 years seem to go waste! MY dream is shattered.
Question 28.
The homeopath in the story The Snake and the Mirror’ found his room cleaned out by a thief when he came back the next day. You meet him after this incident. Prepare a set of six questions that you would like to ask him. (6)
Answer:
a) Doctor, I heard that all your things were stolen from the hotel. Is it true?
b) What all things did you lose?
c) Were your friends willing to help you after this incident?
d) Did you complain to the police?
e) What was the response of the hotel authorities?
f) What lesson did you learn from this incident?
Question 29.
Satyajit Ray had to face a lot of difficulties in shooting the scenes with a tiger for his movie ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’. He writes a letter to his friend describing his experiences. Prepare a likely letter. (6)
Answer:
Howrah
Calcutta
20 April 2022
DearKumkum,
Thank you for your letter dated 15 April. Good to know that your son has got admission for MBBS. Congrats!
Well, this time I had a hard time shooting with a tiger for my latest film “Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne”. Goopy and Bagha are banished by the king and they are wandering in the forest. They see a tiger and they are terrified. I arranged for a tiger from Bharat Circus. The tiger was brought to the location.
We found a suitable bamboo grove in Notun Gram. As arranged with Mr. Thorat of Bharat Circus, a lorry arrived with two well-fed tigers. He brought two so that if one did not do things properly the other could be used. A tripod was placed facing the bamboo grove to mount the camera. The audience was instructed to get behind the camera.
Goopy and Bagha were placed close to the bamboo grove so that they could be seen along with the tiger. A five-foot iron rod was fixed to the ground, some 30 feet from the area where the tiger was to walk. A tiger-skin collar with a thin wire inside was placed in the neck of the tiger. The door of the cage was opened and the tiger jumped out. But instead of walking calmly it started running and jumping about. When it became calm some shots were taken. But the shots were later found to be dark owing to poor light.
The scenes had to be shot a second time. A bamboo grove near Calcutta in Boral was found. The lorry arrived with Thorat, the tiger, the steel wire, the special collar and the iron rod. The whole village came to watch the shooting. The villagers were told to keep at least 70 feet away from the scene of the shot. Without listening to the instructions, the entire crowd got as close to the camera as they could. Thorat opened the cage. With a roar the tiger charged towards the crowd. The crowd disappeared as if my magic. Soon the tiger calmed down and the shots were taken as required. This time the tiger and the camera behaved well.
Say ‘Hi’ to Roy and your sister Mridula!
Yours sincerely,
Satyajit Ray
Questions 30 – 32. Answer any TWO of the following in about 80 words each. (2 × 6 = 12)
Question 30.
The Film Club of your school has made a short film based on the play ‘Never Never Nest’. A well-known actor has consented to inaugurate the function. Prepare a notice inviting all the students to the function. (6)
Answer:
Crescent H.S.S. Kollam
Film Club
23 April 2022
NOTICE
Our Film Club has made a short film based on the play “Never Never Nest” by Cedric Mount. Jack and Jill are a young couple and they have a baby. One day their aunt Jane comes to visit them. She finds they live in a big house and have every luxury item there – fine furniture, a radiogram, a piano, a car and a refrigerator. Jack earns only 6 Pounds a week. Jill is a homemaker. Jane comes to know that all the things in the house and house itself are bought on the “Buy Now Pay Later” marketing scheme. She feels sorry for Jack and Jill. Even their baby is not their own as they owed Dr. Martin 10 Pounds. Dr Martin was the one who helped with the delivery of the baby. Jane gives them a cheque for Ten Pounds asking them to make at least one thing in their home their own. What will they do with the money? That you can see in the film.
The famous actor Tovino Thomas has kindly agreed to come for the inaugural function. The function will start at 10.00 a.m., in the School Auditorium on Friday, 30 April 2022.
All students and teachers are invited
Sd/-
(Deepika Davis)
Secretary
Question 31.
Prepare a profile of Anton Chekhov using the hints given.
Born : January 29, 1860,Taganrog, Russia.
Education : First Moscow State Medical University
Occupation : Physician, Short Story Writer, Playwright
Famous as : Playwright, Short story writer
Notable works : Three Sisters, The Cherry Orchard, The Lady with the Dog
Awards and Honours : Pushkin Prize
Died : July 14, 1904, Germany
Answer:
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on 29 January 1860 in Taganrog, Russia. He was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers in the world. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. Along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, Chekhov is often referred to as one of the three seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre. Chekhov was a doctor by profession. He studied at the First Moscow State Medical University. “Medicine is my lawful wife”, he once said, “and literature is my mistress.” His notable works are “Three Sisters”, “The Cherry Orchard” and “The Lady with the Dog”. He received the Pushkin Prize. He died of tuberculosis in Germany on 14 July 1904.
Question 32.
Ali was deeply distressed when he realised that he had lost his sister’s shoes. When he reached home, Zahra, his sister asked him about her shoes. Prepare the likely conversation between AN and Zahra (Write at least six exchanges).
Answer:
Zahra : Ali, what happened to you? You look so distressed.
Ali : Zahra, I am sorry. I lost your shoes.
Zahra : What do you mean by lost my shows? How did you lose them?
Ali : after getting them repaired, I placed them in a bag and went to the vegetable shop. I kept the bag on top of some vegetable boxes. When I came out the bag was missing.
Zahra : The bag was missing? How?
Ali : A junk collector came when I was inside the shop. He thought the bag had some junk and so he took it and threw it into his cart and went away with it.
Zahra : How will I go to school tomorrow without shoes? I will tell father to buy me a new pair.
Ali : Zahra, don’t say this to the father. He will severely beat me up. You know he has no money even to buy food.
Zahra : But how can I go to school?
Ali : For some days you wear my shoes, In the meantime I will find a way out.
Zahra : Are you crazy? How can I wear a boy’s shoes?
Ali : If you really love me, you will not report the matter to the father.
Zahra : Well, let me think! You’re a very useless brother!
PART – V (Each question carries 8 score)
Questions 33 – 35 : Answer any TWO of the following in about 120 words each. 2 × 8 = 16
Question 33.
The Scholarship Jacket’ describes the struggles of Martha for justice. She narrates the incidents at school to one of her friends. Prepare the likely narrative.
(Hints: Texas school – Martha expects to win the Scholarship Jacket – overhears the conversation between her teachers – change in policy – needs fif-teen dollars – grandfather ref uses – meets the Principal – changes decision – Martha gets the jacket)
Answer:
According to the tradition of my school in Texas, every year during the 8th grade passing out function a beautiful gold and green jacket was awarded to the student who had maintained the highest grades for 8 years. I had been an “A” student from the first grade. My father is a farm labourer. He hardly earned enough money to feed his 8 children. So when I was six, I was given to my grandparents to be looked after.
After the PE classes, when I went to my classroom to collect my bag I heard an argument between Mrs. Schmidt, my history teacher and Mr. Boone, my maths teacher. They were arguing about me. Mr. Schmidt wanted me to get the Scholarship Jacket. But Mr. Boone wanted it to be given to Joanne, who is No. 2, just behind me. Her father is a Board Member.
The next day the Principal called me and said there was a change in the policy regarding the scholarship jacket. To get it, I have to pay 15 dollars. When I asked my grandfather for 15 dollars, he told me he would not give it because if one has to pay for the jacket it will not be a scholarship jacket.
I told the Principal what my grandfather told me. Fortunately for me, the Principal changed his decision to charge me $15 and I was given the Scholarship Jacket without any payment. I feel Mr. Schmidt must have presented my case strongly to the Principal and that is why I finally got the Scholarship Jacket. I feel so happy.
Question 34.
The story, ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ portrays a boy’s close-knit relationship with nature. Narrate in your own words the incidents which the boy witnesses.
(Hints: Banyan tree – a favourite spot of the boy – friendship with a grey squirrel – birds – the fight be-tween the mongoose and the cobra – the strange case of the grey squirrel and the white rat)
Answer:
I had made a small platform half way up the banyan tree in our compound. From this platform I could watch the surroundings and I also used to read sitting there, enjoying the cool breeze. Once I saw a fight between a mongoose and a cobra. A myna and a crow were also involved inthe fight. Attheend of the fight, the cobra and crow die. The crow dies because of the bite it got from the cobra and the cobra dies because of the bites from the mongoose. It was a very fierce and thrilling fight.
Then there was the birth of three baby squirrels. A small grey squirrel lived on that tree. At first the squirrel did not like me but soon we became friends. My grandfather had bought a white rat from the bazaar. I would often take the rat to the roots and branches of the banyan tree. It soon made friendship with the squirrel. They would together go for excursions among the branches. Then the squirrel started building a nest. One day my grandmother’s knitting was missing.
We looked for it everywhere but without success. Then I found the squirrel had filled its nest with the knitting of my grandmother. Among the wool there were three white baby squirrels. When I mentioned this to my grandfather I also told him that the white rat often visited the tree. Then grandfather told me that the rat must be the father of the white baby squirrels. He said that rats and squirrels were related to each other and it was possible for them to have babies if they mated. It was news to me! I am so happy that I took the rat to the squirrel.
Question 35.
The life of John in the story The Best Investment I Ever Made’ is a good example of how reckless life spoils a young man. The transformation in John’s life is inspiring. Prepare a text of a speech on the need to keep away from bad friendship and the importance of leading a socially committed life.
(Hints: John loses his parents at an early age – leads a lonely life in London – falls in bad companionship – engages in gambling – steals money – attempts to commit suicide – saved by a doctor, sergeant of po-lice, landlady – starts a, new life – dedicates his life for derelict adolescents)
Answer:
The parents of John died when he was very young. His uncle helped him to get a job as a clerk in a London lawyer’s office. As John had no friends, he had fallen into bad company. He was enjoying the pleasures of his life beyond his means. He started betting on horses. Soon he lost all his savings and he incurred a lot of debt. In an effort to get money he stole 7 pounds and 10 shillings from the office safe to make a final bet. But again he lost. He was desperate and he returned to the room. He wanted to die. He turned on the gas. He became unconscious. When he became conscious, he saw the police sergeant, Dr. Cronin and the landlady standing around him. He told them why he wanted to die.
The sergeant, Dr. Cronin and the land lady were sympathetic people. They decided to help John. The policeman would not report the case and so there would be no trial. Dr. Cronin gave him 7 pounds and 10 shillings to replace the money he had stolen. The landlady offered him free board for a month. All these acts of kindness changed John. It was then he decided to work for the rehabilitation of the delinquent youth. John is now a lawyer by profession. In addition he is the director of a charitable organization devoted to the welfare of boys and girls. These are mostly delinquent youths.
John and his wife take delinquent youths from the juvenile courts and place them in a healthy environment. They heal them in mind and body and send them back into the world. They are given training in some handicraft so that they could live as worthy citizens.
Thus we see the life of John in the story “The Best Investment I Ever Made” is a good example of how a reckless life spoils a young man. The transformation in John’s life is inspiring. We all should learn from this story that there is a need to keep away from bad friendships. We also learn about the importance of leading a socially committed life.